Electric windows mystery fault

[Oncewaswarrier]

My 73 plate T6.1 has had an intermittent electric window fault for about 16 months and despite spending weeks with Main Dealership over about 5 different occasions they haven’t solved the problem. The windows can fail in both open and closed positions either together or separately. They can start working again of their own accord but always start functioning again if the engine is stopped and restarted, either manually or by engine manangement system at traffic lights etc. Dealership has replaced the switches on both sides under warranty but this hasn’t helped. Anyone got any experience of this or ideas what could be causing the problem? I’d be grateful for any help.

 

[StratosFearXX]

No idea but it's been in five times and all they've done is replaced the switches???

 

[Kingsimon2000]

I had the annoying not going fully closed and bounce back on my windows. The dealership said it was unaligned windows.. Chatgpt said I needed to use Silicone spray on the rubber seals.. guess which one fixed it?

 

[Oncewaswarrier]

No idea but it's been in five times and all they've done is replaced the switches???

The first couple of occasions the windows worked when they test drove it so they said there was nothing they could do. They wouldn’t accept video evidence taken by me of them failing as they said VW wouldn’t then cover their repair costs under warranty. (They initially wanted to charge me for these tests, as no fault observed, but ultimately did waive the fees out of goodwill.). Eventually, I ended up driving round near their garage until the windows failed then taking it directly in and calling them out to witness the failure. This, at last prompted acceptance that there was a fault, that I wasn’t making it up, and ultimately some action including individual switch replacements. On one occasion they said they’d fixed it but I drove less than a mile from them before I tried to use them and they didn’t work again. I turned around and took it straight back! On the last occasion they did the drivers side switch which apparently contains the control unit so they were confident this would solve it but sadly it didn’t. They’ve said they’ll take it back again but I’m not convinced they know what to try next and I’m very bored with this ordeal. Surely this can’t be that complicated? Hence I’m wondering if anyone else has experienced this or has any other ideas as to what could be the cause? I’d be very grateful for any thoughts.

 

[Howzat]

My 73 plate T6.1 has had an intermittent electric window fault for about 16 months and despite spending weeks with Main Dealership over about 5 different occasions they haven’t solved the problem. The windows can fail in both open and closed positions either together or separately. They can start working again of their own accord but always start functioning again if the engine is stopped and restarted, either manually or by engine manangement system at traffic lights etc. Dealership has replaced the switches on both sides under warranty but this hasn’t helped. Anyone got any experience of this or ideas what could be causing the problem? I’d be grateful for any help.

When/If they fail again try the key fob buttons just out of interest.

 

[Oncewaswarrier]

Will do, thanks for the suggestion..

 

[Oncewaswarrier]

When/If they fail again try the key fob buttons just out of interest.

Hi apologies for long delay but I tried fob buttons both when windows have failed and when they’re working. They don’t work in either state. Just FYI I’m doing this with engine running as windows work when it isn’t, so not sure if this fob door locking/unlocking overridden by other lock button? What is your experience?

Main dealership have it back now and windows weren’t working when I dropped off so they took it straight into workshop for diagnostics without stopping engine. Fingers crossed they find something this time….

 

[Howzat]

Mine shuts the window by holding the lock button on the fob. Same with opening when holding unlock.
I think this only works if you set comfort lock on the windows first by using the door switches to fully open then press open again then close then press close again.
Hope the dealer finds the issue for you.

 

[Oncewaswarrier]

Hi all, by way of update, VW main dealership had my van for 4 weeks in June to try to solve this window problem. As I said before the windows weren’t working when I dropped it off so they took it straight into the workshop for diagnostics. Unfortunately the VW procedure told them to stop and restart the engine, which always, at least temporarily, solves the issue. They then kept taking it out for drives trying to get it to fail again. Eventually this happened but the windows started working again before they could get it into the workshop so they couldn’t test but they concluded from this it could be a simple wiring issue. I doubted this, due to the fact the windows always start working again if engine restarted, but they fitted a parallel wire and unfortunately it made no difference. They therefore concluded it could be passenger side module (which I believe includes motor and control unit). They have already replaced the drivers side module a while ago and the drivers switch. Sadly, though, when I picked it up the windows failed again. First time, the passenger side wasnt working from either switch whilst the drivers side was still operating fine. The second time both windows stopped working but then started working again on their own having just been cruising down the motorway.
Given all VW have done they are really scratching their heads as to what could be causing this problem so if anyone has any ideas I’d be really grateful.
Thanks.

 

[whodat]

Has anyone been playing with any settings via Carista/OBD/VCDS etc?

 

[Phil_j89]

Hi all, by way of update, VW main dealership had my van for 4 weeks in June to try to solve this window problem. As I said before the windows weren’t working when I dropped it off so they took it straight into the workshop for diagnostics. Unfortunately the VW procedure told them to stop and restart the engine, which always, at least temporarily, solves the issue. They then kept taking it out for drives trying to get it to fail again. Eventually this happened but the windows started working again before they could get it into the workshop so they couldn’t test but they concluded from this it could be a simple wiring issue. I doubted this, due to the fact the windows always start working again if engine restarted, but they fitted a parallel wire and unfortunately it made no difference. They therefore concluded it could be passenger side module (which I believe includes motor and control unit). They have already replaced the drivers side module a while ago and the drivers switch. Sadly, though, when I picked it up the windows failed again. First time, the passenger side wasnt working from either switch whilst the drivers side was still operating fine. The second time both windows stopped working but then started working again on their own having just been cruising down the motorway.
Given all VW have done they are really scratching their heads as to what could be causing this problem so if anyone has any ideas I’d be really grateful.
Thanks.

Fairly recent versions of ODIS, the ignition is turned off and back on 'by the laptop' so there would be no way of continuing without it doing an ignition reset.

Is the vehicle as it was when it left the factory? Or has there been any changes since then?